The Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program teaches the children of Naudain Academy, a Montessori school, about “The Hidden Treasure” – being grateful

Voorhees, New Jersey – The children of Naudain Academy were excited to learn about The Hidden Treasure today and as they discovered the next Secret Of The Heart. Students had several guesses before Stephanie Pelly, the program facilitator, revealed the secret. “Is it love, friendship or sharing with your friends?” they asked.

Stephanie slowly drew the the word gratitude from her special container. This was a new word for most of the children, so she explained that gratitude means being thankful. She also explained that being grateful is showing appreciation for people or things in your life.

The children were excited to hear the story from the Young Masters Little Wisdom book, The Hidden Treasure. They began to understand that while it’s wonderful to receive gifts, the true gift is being thankful. They discussed the many things for which Butaan and Phylos were grateful for in the story and after the story they shared all for which they were grateful as a class.

Then Stephanie passed around a red gift box and told the children that there was a wonderful, amazing, awesome, super, fantastic and great gift inside. In fact it’s the greatest gift. She told them they could all have a chance to peek and see it, but they would need to keep the gift a surprise until each person discovered the gift themselves. One by one the gift box was passed as each child took a peek inside. She repeated, “thank you for being here, you are a gift!” as one by one they each looked inside the box and saw a star mirror and – their own face looking back at them. Some children got it right away… some took a moment to realize that they are the gift. It’s who they are and all that they can share with other. Some were a little confused and didn’t see themselves as a gift, so after each person had a turn Stephanie asked, “So what is this wonderful, amazing awesome, super, fantastic and great gift?” One little boy raised his hand and said, ” Each one of us is a gift to the world!” “Exactly,” Stephanie said. “We can share our smiles and friendship with people every day! We each have something to give. Something for which to be truly thankful.” She then asked the children to share some of the gifts they can give to others. Immediately they chimed in, “friendship, imagination, love, kindness, sharing and playing together.” “Yes, all the secrets of the heart,” said Stephanie.

Stephanie then told the children she was going to use her imagination to give each child a gift. One child said, “we learned all about imagination in the book The Magic Eye. They remembered. She went on to tell them that in order to receive the gift she was giving them, she would need to use her imagination… and so would they. One by one she pulled out “imaginary gifts” and placed something inside each child’s hand or around their necks or once in awhile I even rolled a special gift to a child. Every child said “thank you” and said they were grateful for their gifts. One child said… “I know what my gift is, a baseball.” Another child said, “You gave me sparkles.” “My gift was a mircophone!” “I got a telescope.” “I got a necklace.” One child pondered long and hard and might still be thinking about what his gift really was. “You can think about it while you’re in bed tonight, ” Stephanie said, and added, “I gave you each my love with your gift…and that’s the best gift.”

They sang “Circle of Appreciation” and had fun playing a game where the students got to point to all their different friends during the song. They loved this song and game. The lesson ended as they passed around earth ball and shared the many gifts they earth gives to us. “Something for which we are are very grateful,” said Stephanie, “to be on this beautiful Earth with our families and friends.”

Stay tuned for the next secret of the heart and the continuing journey for these very fortunate Young Masters at Naudain Academy.